Rueter-Hess Reservoir lies in the hilly uplands between Castle Pines and Parker, 4.7 miles east of I-25 on Hess Road (Exit 188). It is a new-ish lake, and is not as widely known as other Denver area lakes. The reservoir began filling in 2011, and did not permit water activities for several years. The ultimate potential for regional recreation on the Rueter-Hess property has been envisioned in planning documents for many years. As the reservoir has filled, and as funding has been dedicated for amenity development, different facets of the park vision are gradually being realized. 2019 saw the introduction of Paddle Days by Douglas County Parks and Recreation District. Since then, water recreation has expanded from a handful of Saturdays and Sunday in the summer months to a respectable 5-month season of 4-day weekends.
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| Rueter-Hess Reservoir, looking southwest |
A $10 parking reservation is required to access the reservoir, and must be obtained ahead of time from the Douglas County Parks website. The reservoir gates are open from 8 am to 6 pm, Friday through Monday, late May through October. All watercraft will be inspected to prevent the introduction of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) to the reservoir. This process will be much quicker if your boards have been thoroughly wiped down since your last SUP session. If the thought of unloading and reloading your equipment for inspection causes anxiety, an alternative is to reserve and rent on-site. Surf'SUP Colorado sets up right on the shoreline and offers paddleboards and other equipment for rent. No gear hauling and perfect for introducing someone new to the activity!
Location Info: [key]
Rentals: Surf'SUP Colorado
